Labelling

avoiding dirty cotton//resources

September 30, 2009
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avoiding dirty cotton//resources

Retailers have a responsibility to understand the social and environmental impacts of the products they sell. Unfortunately, “the cotton supply chain is fragmented, complex and not very transparent.” (CREM, 7) Although CREM’s new handbook, “Sustainable cotton on the shelves,” was developed with mainstream retailers to in mind, it can also be used as a tool for apparel / textile/ fashion (etc.) designers to turn to for help on getting more educated on the fibre. Designers have a responsibility to understand the true social and environmental consequences of their designs. “While efforts are being made to have full traceability of...

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Responsible Fur

September 30, 2009
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Responsible Fur

Setting controversy aside, if one were to purchase fur, we hope that it would have an Origin Assured tag.  This label provides consumers with assurances that the fur is sourced from approved species and approved countries with strict laws governing fur production.  OA is based on a traceability system that tracks the fur from distribution at participating auction houses all the way through to retailers.  OA fur is supported by four leading designers: Oscar de la Renta,  Roberto Cavalli, John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld.  The fantastic four have all created one OA fur piece for their upcoming fall/winter collections. ...

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New Again Coalition- Change Clothing Care Regulations

September 29, 2009
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New Again Coalition- Change Clothing Care Regulations

Project Laundry List, Permacouture Institute and Make Do & Mend have joined forced for an exciting new partnership: The New Again Coalition. “We want to make the clothesline and some time-tested ways of doing laundry new again. We want to make natural dyes and some traditional fabrics and fashions new again. We want to start a trend of patching clothes and upcycling that will make our wardrobes new again.” First order of business?  A petition to change clothing care regulations: “Our first letter is a push for manufacturers and importers to provide consumers with a label that encourages optimal...

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A closer look into Gap Inc.’s new Clean Water Program

September 3, 2009
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A closer look into Gap Inc.’s new Clean Water Program

Gap Inc.’s Clean Water Program, established in 2004 to monitor water contamination, has now grown into a system that advertises zero waste from the factory. Inside the pocket of each pair of 1969 jeans you will find this statement: “The water used in the process of washing & dying these jeans has been specially treated to ensure it is safe & clean when it leaves the factory.” Here’s a closer look at how Gap Inc. breaks down its environmental footprint: “The first phase of our environmental footprint assessment focuses on regions and facilities where we control operations and can make...

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Social Alterations is now on Ning!

September 1, 2009
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Social Alterations is now on Ning!

  You can use this space to share and upload curricula ideas, lesson plans, visual aids, research and projects, or to just discuss the current happenings in the industry with respect to social issues and environmental concerns, as well as the latest trends in socially responsible design.     “See” you in the Forum! Oh…and don’t forget to pick up your Social Alterations Badge!   Visit Social Alterations

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Social Alterations: Forum

August 20, 2009
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Social Alterations: Forum

How can education foster sustainable change toward socially responsible fashion and apparel design and manufacturing practices? Social Alterations hopes to foster socially responsible fashion design education through aggregating relevant material that will inspire fashion/textile and apparel instructors, researchers, designers and design enthusiasts to get on board with thinking about consequence in the industry. Sign up to the Social Alterations Forum if you’re interested in sharing and contributing ideas on curriculum, research, projects, materials, design, etc. with this community.

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Watch: FTA’s ” Sustainable Fashion 101″

August 8, 2009
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Watch: FTA’s ” Sustainable Fashion 101″

Based out of Toronto, Canada, Fashion Takes Action is a member’s based organization dedicated to transforming the fashion industry.  FTA helps businesses, as well as designers, students, consumers and researchers, become more aware of their social and environmental impact, while learning the benefits of operating a more sustainable business. Up this week on the FTA site is video coverage of their recent event “Sustainable Fashion 101.” Presentations from FTA Founder, Kelly Drennan, Andrea Stairs, Head of Marketplace Development at eBay, Ellen Karp, President of Anerca, Elsa Poncet, ECOCERT Europe, and Lorraine Smith, an Independent Sustainability Consultant can be viewed...

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Makower talks Greenwash

May 20, 2009
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Makower talks Greenwash

    Back in April, TerraChoice released their second report on greenwashing, titled “The Seven Sins of Greenwashing.” The first report, “The Six Sins of Greenwashing,” came out in 2007. The recent report offers new stats and, of course, the added seventh sin. Unfortunately, fashion, textile and apparel products were not included in the TerraChoice research. Don’t let this fool you; greenwashing is rampant in the fashion, textile and apparel industry.   Joel Makower from Greenbiz offers a great commentary on the report, outlining where, and how, it may have fallen short: “Late last year, TerraChoice repeated the process, though extended...

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green textiles not popular among shoppers

January 25, 2009
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  A recent report by The Boston Consulting Group, “Capturing the Green Advantage for Consumer Companies,” surveyed the green consumer purchasing habits of 9,000 shoppers across nine countries.   One section of the report showed that consumers vary their green purchases by product category (see Exhibit 6 in the report). While 14% have bought green before, but are not buying it now and 28% are buying green sometimes, 50% have never bought green. Only 8% of survey participants buy green systematically. As a result, ‘Textiles and clothing’ was listed as the third lowest category.   The report also states...

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